 The constituent community of Werschau had its first documentary mention in 1235.In 1802, the municipal area became part of the Principality of Nassau-Weilburg, which itself passed to Prussia in 1866.As of that year, the three centres that now make up Brechen belonged to the district of Limburg; since 1974 they have belonged to the district of Limburg-Weilburg in Hesse.